I'm about to turn 50. The skin on my face is relatively firm and in great condition for my age so I don't need a Facelift.
However, my neck and chin area doesn't look nearly as good as my face. What are my options for firming up the neck and chin area?
It appears from your question that you don't have a lot of sagging of the neck structures (hanging skin, muscle bands, or fat). If that is true, then the aging changes that you are seeing are most likely the result of diminished elasticity of the skin, which can cause the skin to crepe and wrinkle, giving the skin a 'chicken' type of appearance. Loss of bone and fat along the jawline and in the chin itself can also contribute to a tired looking neck.
When there is significant sagging of the neck structures, surgery is almost always the preferred procedure. But in your case it appears that you might benefit from a combination of less invasive procedures. I begin by assessing the need for filler in the chin and along the jawline. Then I look for ways to improve the tone and quality of the skin. I have had good success tightening and improving the skin of the neck and jawline by using a combination of needle-based radiofrequency and fractional ablative laser resurfacing. We do these procedures simultaneously to restore elastin, collagen and hyaluronic acid in the skin while we also improve the surface texture and visible signs of sun-damage. The procedure can be done safely and the results are very satisfying.
Learn more: http://ridenourplasticsurgery.com/Profound
Neck Lift (Cervicoplasty / Platysmaplasty): restoring elegance to the face
If a person’s neck does not appear youthful, the face – no matter how limited the aging changes are – will often not be perceived as youthful either, unless the aging neck is concealed.
Even in the absence of other signs of facial aging, a poorly-defined or sagging neck can add years to a patients overall facial appearance. When performed expertly and with great attention to detail, a necklift surgery can dramatically restore a natural and youthful neck profile, with no outward evidence that surgery has been performed. The adjective that immediately comes to mind when I review ‘before and after’ images of my necklift patients is elegant – for restoring a youthful neck contour truly makes the patient appear not just younger but also refined and elegant.
A very wise and very talented surgical mentor of mine put it very succinctly: in facial rejuvenation surgery, “Get the neck right.” A youthful and well-contoured neck, with no distortions of the surrounding tissues and anatomic structures, is the foundation of a beautiful and youthful-appearing face.
Though it is not technically part of the face, a neck with loose, sagging skin can age the face dramatically. A neck lift is a standard part of most facelift surgeries, as the neck skin is mobilized in continuity with the lower face.
Immediately under the skin of the neck is the platysma muscle, which you can easily see in a mirror when you clench your teeth and tighten your jaw. In youth, this paired muscle meets in the midline below the chin. With age, the right and left sides of the platysma often separate, producing vertical 'cords' in the anterior neck. The platysma can be divided anteriorly and tightened during neck lift cosmetic surgery to permanently eliminate these 'cords' and improve the neck contour. One tightened in the midline below the chin, lateral traction on the platysma then creates a 'sling' which elevates the soft tissues below the jawline.
Cervical / submandibular liposuction
Some individuals have 'sagging' necks primarily due to fat accumulation below the jawbone (mandible). In some cases, liposuction alone can significantly improve the neck appearance. Liposuction is also frequently combined with surgical neck rejuvenation, and in selected cases some direct excision of fat (through a hidden incision below the chin) is performed. The reduction of fat in the area below the jawline and in the anterior neck almost always makes the neck appear longer, and makes the patient's profile appear more elegant or refined.
Suture suspension neck lift
In cosmetic surgery patients that do not have a sharp transition in profile between the submental area (area below the jawline) and the anterior neck, and in patients who simply want that transition enhanced, I add a 'suture suspension necklift'. A permanent suture is passed subcutaneously across the anterior neck, at the level corresponding to depth of the angle between the submental area and anterior neck, and is then anchored to the deep soft tissues behind each earlobe. This suspension cosmetic surgery procedure can dramatically enhance the definition between the jawline and anterior neck, producing a more elegant profile.
The neck is without question the primary 'facelift' aesthetic area where subtractive (excisional) and tightening procedures restore a truly youthful contour. Once again, take a look at the fashion magazines: essentially every neck you'll see demonstrates something close to a right angle between the neck and jaw. When it comes to the neck, and only in the neck, flat is good.
There are currently a number of non-surgical treatments designed to address excess fat and skin of the neck and lower face. My experience is that these non-surgical treatment are not effective with facial rejuvenation.
Learn more: http://www.michaellawmd.com/gallery/neck_rejuv1.html
If skin laxity is not an issue, then the thinning and crepe appearance is the next common sign of an aging neck. A multimodal approach of high quality skin care at home along with serial treatments of RadioFrequency, Microneedling, Fractionated laser can help to induce collagen production and some contraction of the skin. It will take some patience as it is not generally a quick fix.
Learn more: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25076448
The neck and chin area can often times show the appearance of age with loose skin, wrinkles, or an accumulation of fat. For best results, each concern should be addressed separately and a plan devised. Often liposuction of the neck or skin tightening is a reasonable combination of procedures to improve the appearance of a loose or a fatty lower neck. Depending on the patient’s expectations, liposuction will not correct sagging or wrinkled skin. If these are the patient concerns, then a lower facelift tightening procedure may need to be considered. If there is additional fullness under the chin and within the neck, then liposuction can be utilized in conjunction with a facelift. I recommend consulting with a board certified facial plastic surgeon to access an accurate diagnosis of your particular condition. All the best—Dr. Cohen
There are three components in the neck that must be addressed for a comprehensive neck rejuvenation. These components are excess skin, fat above and below the muscle, and the platysma muscle itself. The anterior platysmal bands are tightened with sutures placed in the platysma muscle. Fatty deposits are removed above and below the platysma muscle, and excess skin is tightened through incisions behind the ears. A lower face/neck lift is the most appropriate operation since a neck lift alone will not address the skin laxity. For many examples of neck lifts and faces/neck lifts, please see the link below
Learn more: http://www.seattlefacial.com/photogallery/facelift_photos.html
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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